Lt Gen Baljeet Singh accorded warm farewell

Lt Gen Baljeet Singh, chief of staff, HQ Western Command who was commissioned in March 1972 bid farewell on Saturday. He retires after putting in a service of more than four decades.

In a solemn wreath laying ceremony at Veer Smriti War Memorial Chandimandir Military Station, he paid tribute and saluted the brave soldiers who have made supreme sacrifice for their motherland before hanging his uniform on Saturday.

An alumnus of La Martiniere College, Lucknow and National Defence Academy Khadakvasla, he was commissioned on March 31, 1972 in 66 Field Regt. An aviator to the core he is a qualified flying instructor and has been an instructor in Jammu and Jalandhar Air OP Squadrons. He has flown different types of aircrafts and helicopters for over ten years before reverting back to Artillery.

The general officer has had a distinguished career in both command and staff. He commanded 219 Med Regt in Counter Insurgency environment in Pattan (J&K) and was Commander 97 Independent Artillery Brigade (Arty Bde) during OP PARAKRAM.

During the last one year as chief of staff HQ Western Command he has contributed to the overall operational preparedness and visible improvements in Chandimandir Military Station apart from smooth administrative functioning of the western command and also focused equally on the welfare of troops. His wife Col SRB Singh is a doctor in army medical corps. The general officer finally plans to settle down in Panchkula.